ICC World Cup 2011 to 2015: Test playing nations have seen numerous changes to the coaching setup

In recent times, numerous Test playing nations have seen changes in their coaching setup. From the return of Waqar Younis to the ouster of Ottis Gibson, teams have been trying to find the perfect formulae. Then there is Duncan Fletcher, who is under pressure to quit as India coach. Nishad Pai Vaidya looks at the changes in the coaching setups since 2011.

There have been some sweeping changes in team managements across the globe. Ottis Gibson left the West Indian job with less than a year to go for the 2015 World Cup. Meanwhile, Duncan Fletcher seems to be on his way out with his assistants being given a break and Ravi Shastri taking over as Director of Cricket at India. Meanwhile, Bangladesh have also seen the arrival of Chandrika Hathurasinghe. It is quite fascinating to note that none of the coaches from the 2011 World Cup have stayed on with their respective sides as we head into the next edition Down Under. Gibson was the last surviving coach from the last World Cup.

Interesting fact: Waqar Younis coached Pakistan at the 2011 World Cup and has now returned in the role after a gap of three years. If he does manage to stay on, he may be the only one who has coached the same side at the two World Cups. But, one cannot predict anything about Pakistan cricket in this regard!

Let us have a look at a table that reflects the coaching timelines:

Team

Coach in 2011 WC

Succeeding Coach

Current Coach

No of Coaches since WC*

Australia

Tim Nielsen

Mickey Arthur

Darren Lehmann

3

England

Andy Flower

Ashley Giles

Peter Moores

3

India

Gary Kirsten

Duncan Fletcher

Duncan Fletcher

1

Pakistan

Waqar Younis

Dav Whatmore

Waqar Younis

2

South Africa

Cory van Zyl

Gary Kirsten

Russell Domingo

2

Sri Lanka

Trevor Bayliss

Geoff Marsh

Marvan Attapatu

3

New Zealand

Joh Wright

Mike Hesson

Mike Hesson

2

West Indies

Ottis Gibson

Richie Richardson

Richie Richardson

1

Bangladesh

Jammie Siddons

Stuart Law

Chandrika Hathurasingha

3

Zimbabwe

Alan Butcher

Andy Waller

Steve Mangongo

3

*does not include interim coaches. Marvan Attapatu and Richie Richardson as still interim coaches though.

Almost every side has gone through some strife with their respective coaches. Hence, there have been quite a few changes in their setups.

Australia: Tim Nielsen quit from the job in September 2011. Troy Cooley filled in for him for the tour to South Africa that year before Mickey Arthur took over. Arthur’s time was turbulent. Though, he started off with some success at home and in the West Indies, it only got worse with a defeat to South Africa at home and then the 4-0 whitewash at the hands of India in 2013. The homeworkgate scandal only soured up things and Arthur was shown the door after Australia’s early exit at the ICC Champions Trophy 2013. Darren Lehmann was ushered in with the Ashes 2013 in store. The former Australia batsman has been able to fashion a recovery for his side, with the highlight being a 5-0 victory in the Ashes Down Under.

England: Andy Flower was the team director for England and oversaw things. However, for the limited-overs format, they had Ashley Giles heading them. Both men lost their jobs after the tour to Australia in 2013-14. Giles’ last game in charge was the embarrassing defeat to the Netherlands in the ICC World T20 2014. Peter Moores returned for his second stint as the coach thereafter.

India: Gary Kirsten signed off with the 2011 World Cup victory and Duncan Fletcher took over soon after. It hasn’t been an easy time for Fletcher, who now potentially faces more embarrassment with some striking changes in the Indian setup. Under him, India have been humiliated in Test cricket, twice in England and once in Australia. The highlights include the Champions Trophy victory in 2013, beating Australia 4-0 at home and reaching the final of the 2014 World T20.

Pakistan: It is quite interesting that Waqar is now back as Pakistan coach. He is one man who coached Pakistan at the 2011 World Cup before he left the post. Mohsin Khan took over as the interim coach. Though Mohsin engineered Pakistan’s success over England in the Middle East, Dav Whatmore took over and held the post for a little over a year. Moin Khan was then the interim coach with Waqar returning to the scene in July 2014.

South Africa: A lot of stability in the ranks here. Gary Kirsten took over with a vision in 2011 and saw to it that South Africa reach the pinnacle of the Test rankings. He gave up the role in 2013 after the Champions Trophy with Russell Domingo succeeding him. Kirsten has still maintained his ties with the South African unit and is seen advising them.

Sri Lanka: Perhaps the most dramatic coaching sagas. Trevor Bayliss finished after the 2011 World Cup and Rumesh Ratnayke was the interim coach thereafter. Geoff Marsh took over for some time but after an unsuccessful run, he had to leave the role. Graham Ford then signed a two year contract and was later replaced by Paul Farbrace. Though Farbrace was at the helm when Sri Lanka won the World T20 2014, he quit to take a job with England. Marvan Attapatu, the batting coach has now taken over for the time being.

New Zealand: John Wright remained New Zealand’s coach until 2012, when he quit. The young Mike Hesson succeeded him and although the initial phase was a bit turbulent, with the changes in captaincy, New Zealand have now become a world class unit, capable of beating anyone on their day. They are more aggressive and play a free-spirited brand of cricket under Hesson, who has formed a good partnership with Brendon McCullum.

West Indies: Ottis Gibson remained West Indies coach for over four years and had to go before the 2014 series against Bangladesh. West Indies continued to remain the inconsistent side they have been in recent years, showing the occasional spark of brilliance. One highlight of his tenure was Chris Gayle’s exile from the side for over a year. However, the World T20 victory of 2012 would remain one to savour. Richie Richardson is now the interim coach.

Bangladesh: Jamie Siddons did not get his contract extended after the 2011 World Cup. Stuart Law succeeded him and his biggest success as coach was taking them through to the final of the Asia Cup 2012. Shane Jurgensen followed and he quit after a disappointing run in 2014. Hathurasingha has now started his time with the tour to the West Indies.

Zimbabwe: Alan Butcher was the coach in 2011 and he quit last year with Andy Waller coming into the picture. Waller was promoted to Director of Cricket when Zimbabwe Cricket saw some changes and Steve Mangongo is now the coach.